Best practices for the handling of seed potatoes practices for the... · seed potato quality is a...

Best practices for the handling of seed potatoes

February 2015

www.potatoes.co.za

POTATOES SOUTH AFRICA

FOREWORD

Seed potatoes are more valuable than gold – not only because the cost of seed potatoes comprises the greatest proportion of production costs, but also because seed potato quality is a determining factor in yield. The quality of seed potatoes is determined by their disease status, physiological stage, size and vigour.

In the majority of potato-producing countries in the northern Hemisphere, potatoes (seed potatoes and table potatoes) are planted in a particular season and harvested in a particular season. In many countries, potatoes are stored in coldrooms during the winter months. Information pertaining to foreign countries is therefore not usually applicable to the domestic situation. In South Africa, potatoes are planted during all four seasons of the year. To ensure mature seed potatoes for cultivation in specific areas, they are planted in both summer and winter. This means that the physiological quality of seed potatoes in South Africa differs, as do the conditions under which they are planted.

It is a given that seed potato growers and table potato growers are exposed to the same climatic risks and that climatic conditions during the seed potato production season have an effect on their physiological condition. Similarly, climate has an effect on the response of seed potatoes after planting during the table potato season. Production methods during the seed potato and table potato seasons, as well as the handling of the seed potatoes from the time of harvesting up until and during planting, affect the quality of the seed potatoes.

Knowledge of seed potato quality, good communication and good handling practices on the part of every individual in the value chain are the foundation of the successful trading and cultivation of seed potatoes in South Africa. Role players in the handling of seed potatoes include: Seed potato grower, seed potato trader, table potato producer, transport contractor, cold storage facilities and processing companies.

This document was compiled by Potatoes South Africa. The concept is not new and documents written by Drs Pierre Nortjé, Niël Theron and Ben Pieterse were used as the foundation to compile the current guide. The valuable contribution of Potato Certification Service, seed growers, producers of table potatoes and seed traders is acknowledged with appreciation.

Dr Fienie Niederwieser(Manager: Research & Development, Potatoes South Africa)

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BEST PRACTICES FOR THE HANDLING OF SEED POTATOESFEBRUARY 2015

CONTENT

The purpose of this document 1

Why plant certified seed potatoes? 2

Retention of seed potatoes 3

Responsibilities 4

Best practices for the handling of seed potatoes 6

Best practices for the manager of the cold storage facility 14

Complaints related to seed potatoes in South Africa 14

Role players during investigations 16

Guidelines for the investigation of complaints related to seed potatoes 18

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THE PURPOSE OF THIS DOCUMENT

The purpose of this document is to provide guidelines for best practices for the handling of seed potatoes from harvesting until planting.

This document is not intended to provide guidelines in respect of any procedure during the certification and testing of seed potatoes, since this information is contained in the South African Seed Potato Certification Scheme (Scheme).

Due to the fact that the production of seed potatoes and table potatoes takes place under different circumstances and there is no standard handling method for seed potatoes, certain principles are followed and the focus is on the availability of information with regard to production and handling conditions.

This document was compiled with the input of various role players in the value chain, namely seed potato growers, seed potato taders, table potato producers, and the Potato Certification Service. The document was subsequently accepted by the National Seed Potato Committee and approved by the Board of Directors of Potatoes South Africa.

Definition of terms:• Seedpotatogrower:Farmerwhoproducescertifiedseedpotatoes.• Seedpotatoseller/supplier:Aseedpotatogrower,seedpotatotrader or other individual who sells seed potatoes.• Seedpotatobuyer/receiver:Aseedpotatogrower,tablepotato producer, seed potato trader or other individual who purchases seed potatoes.• Tablepotatoproducer:Farmerwhoplantsseedpotatoesforproduction for the fresh-produce market or for processing.• Transportcontractor:Apersonorcompanycontractedtotransportseed potatoes on a remuneration basis.• Coldstoragefacility:Facilitywhereseedpotatoesarestoredatlow temperature, whether on the farm or at a commercial facility.

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WHY PLANT CERTIFIED SEED POTATOES?

The primary aim of the South African Seed Potato Certification Scheme (the Scheme) is to supply the potato industry with high-quality certified potato planting material in the following ways:• Bycontrollingthespreadofdisease.• Throughimprovedriskmanagement.• Bypromotingthesustainableuseofland.• Bymakingknownthediseasestatusofcertifiedseedpotatoes.• Byprotectingtheindustryagainstpestsanddiseasesthatmaybe imported.

Planting certified seed potatoes gives the assurance that the seed potatoes have been grown, sampled, inspected and sealed in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Scheme, and that at the time of being sealed, they were found to be in compliance with the requirements of the Scheme.

An intact certification label on a sealed seed potato bag serves as proof that the seed potatoes are certified. Any container without an intact certification label is deemed uncertified.

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Role of seed potatoes in the control of disease

• CertifiedseedpotatoescomplywiththetolerancessetbytheScheme for each class and generation. Seed potatoes are not necessarily 100% free of disease. The inspection reports provide information on the diseases observed during the certification process or identified during the testing procedure, thus specifying the occurrence.• Early-generationseedpotatoescarryalowerriskoftuber-borne diseases.

RETENTION OF SEED POTATOES

• TheSchemeisnotanobligatoryscheme.Assuch,nobodyisobligated to plant certified seed potatoes. There are, however, certain risks and responsibilities associated with the retention of seed potatoes.• TheSchemeaimstolimitthespreadofdiseasethroughseedpotatoes. Retaining seed potatoes increases the risk of contamination by viruses and soil-borne diseases, as well as infestation by insects and nematodes.• Iftheintellectualpropertyofthecultivarownerisprotectedbyplant breeder’s rights, the licensee (local distributor) of the cultivar is required to pay royalties to the owner. The South African potato industry is dependent on foreign breeders for the sustained development and supply of improved cultivars. Keeping the domestic market attractive to foreign breeders is in the best interests of the industry as a whole.• Shouldafarmerretainseedpotatoesforpersonaluse,theproperthing to do is to reach an agreement with the licensee regarding the royalties to be paid to the licensee.

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RESPONSIBILITIES

The success and satisfactory trade of seed potatoes relies on good communication,honestyandtrustbetweentheseller/supplierandthebuyer/receiver.

The expectations of the buyer/receiver when purchasing seed potatoes

• Aclientexpectstoreceivetherightcultivarofseedpotatoes.• Ifaparticularsourcehasbeenagreeduponinadvance,thenthatisthe source that should be delivered.• Theseedpotatoesshouldbeinthephysiologicalstagethatwasagreed upon.• Theoccurrenceofdiseasesshallbewithintoleranceforaparticular generation.• Shouldcircumstancesmaketheaboveimpossible,theclientwouldbe notified in good time.

Best practices for the seller/supplier

• Seedpotatoqualityisaffectedbyvariousfactorssuchasdisease status, climate and cultivation practices during seed potato production, conditionsduringstorageandtransport,etc.Thebuyer/receiverof seed potatoes must be aware of the above conditions, and therefore the seed potato grower’s fields, as well as the sorting and storage facilities should be inspected and negotiations between the parties must be encouraged.• Ifthereisapossibilitythatseedpotatoqualitycouldbeaffectedby climatic conditions (such as untimely rainfall, frost, or unusually high or low temperatures) during the production season or after harvesting, the seller/suppliershallnotifytheclientaccordingly.• Shouldthedeliveryofseedpotatoesbedelayedduetoclimatic factors, strike action, etc., the client shall be notified thereof immediately.

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• Shouldthecertificationresultsdifferfromtheresultsexpected,theclient shall be notified thereof immediately.• Inspectionreportsandpost-controlreportsarereleasedonrequestand in a timely manner.• Ifseedpotatoeshavebeensubjecttochemicaltreatment,theseed potato grower shall provide information on the chemical used, as well asthedateandmanneroftreatment,ifrequestedbythebuyer/ receiver.• Shouldseedpotatoesbestoredatlowtemperature,arecordofthe temperature throughout the storage period shall be made available.• Theseller/suppliershallsupervisetheloadingofseedpotatoeson trucks in order to avoid any conspicuous problems.• Onrequest,theseller/suppliershallnotifytheclientofthetruck’stimeof departure, as well as all relevant observations in respect of the transport.• Theseller/suppliershouldappointarepresentativetoinspectthe planting in order to gather as much risk-related information as possible.

Best practices for the buyer/receiver of seed potatoes

• Thebuyer/receivershallsupplytheseller/supplierwithinformation regarding the intended planting date, as well as the market, choice of cultivarandlocalitysothattheseller/suppliercanrecommendand supply the most suitable seed potatoes.• Timelyorderingofseedpotatoesandnotificationofintendedplanting date, cultivar, seed potato size, stage of maturity and generation, as well as the preferred supplier.• Seedpotatoqualityisaffectedbyvariousfactorssuchasdisease status, climate and cultivation practices during seed potato production, conditionsduringstorageandtransport,etc.Thebuyer/receiverof seed potatoes must be aware of the above conditions, and therefore the seed potato grower’s fields, as well as the sorting and storage facilities, should be inspected and negotiations between the parties must be encouraged. • Intheeventofthecancellationofanorder,theseller/suppliermustbe notified without delay.

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• Theseedpotatogrowerortraderexpectsthebuyer/receivertomake use of transport contractors with the necessary knowledge and experience in respect of the transportation of seed potatoes.• Shouldthebuyer/receivernotbesatisfiedwiththeproductdelivered, theseller/suppliermustbecontactedassoonaspossible.Thiswould normally be within seven (7) days after delivery, unless otherwise specified in the sales agreement. Timely reporting of any issues allows for problems to be identified and resolved as soon as possible.• Shouldthebuyer/receiverfeelthattheseedpotatoesdonotmeetthe necessary requirements, the supplier shall be provided with information on the relevant practices and conditions (including conditions during transport and timely storage, soil preparation and planting conditions).

BEST PRACTICES FOR THE HANDLING OF SEED POTATOES

Risk analysis

• Beawareofthebenefitsandrisksrelatedtotheplannedplantingdate (forexample,theavailabilityofmatureseedpotatoes,cold/warm/wet soil,frost/heatwaveduringthegrowingseason,heavyrainfall/ drought, duration of growth period).• Seedmaturityisadeterminingfactorintheperformanceofseed potatoes. Cultivars differ in that some cultivars perform optimally when they are just starting to sprout, while others perform well at an advanced stage of sprouting. It is therefore important to ensure that the chosen seed potato cultivar will be at the optimal stage of maturity at the planned time of planting. If not, it is better to reconsider the time of planting than to plant seed potatoes that are not mature.• Knowwhichpestsanddiseaseshavebeenproblematicinthepast,as well as the rotational crops planted previously. The risks related to pests and diseases can then be taken into consideration.• Considerwhetherthechosencultivarissuitedtotheintendedtimeof planting and production conditions, as well as the intended market?

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• Productionandstorageconditionshaveaneffectonthequalityofseed potatoes. It is important to keep records of the performance of seed potatoes acquired from a particular supplier over a number of years. Measuring performance over several years gives a better indication of what to expect from seed potatoes from a particular source, compared to information on the previous season only.• Unsuitableconditionsduringthestorageandtransportofseedpotatoes can affect quality. Does the storage facility meet the requirements? Is the transport currently in use suitable for the transportation of your seed potatoes? • Visitwww.potatocertification.co.zatofindoutmoreaboutcertification.

Transportation of seed potatoes

• Seedpotatoesareoftentransportedoverlongdistances.Duetodifferent planting times, conditions during transportation can vary greatly. • Sinceunfavourableconditionsduringtransportationcanaffectthe quality of seed potatoes, the transportation of seed potatoes is an important step and deserves the same attention as all the other steps in the handling of seed potatoes. The same applies to on-farm transportation. • Therearethreebasicrequirementsinthetransportationofseed potatoes: The seed potatoes must be kept dry, the temperature must remain moderate, and there must be sufficient ventilation. • Makeuseofacontractorwiththenecessaryexperienceinthe transportation of seed potatoes. Is the truck driver suitably trained and experienced in the transportation of seed potatoes? Is the truck suited to the duration and conditions of the journey? Is the truck in good condition?• Makesurethatthecontractorhasinsurancecoverage.• Seedpotatoeskeptincoldstoragemustbedrywhenloadedontothetruck.• Workersshouldnotstandorwalkontheseedpotatoes,sincethis causes damage and bruising.

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• Wherepossible,extremelyhighandextremelylowtemperaturesmust be avoided during transportation.• Duringthesummer,seedpotatoesmustbeprotectedfromrain,hailand direct sunlight. Seed potatoes should be transported overnight in order to avoid the worst heat.• Inwinter,seedpotatoesmustbeprotectedfromfrostandcoldwinds. Seed potatoes should be transported during the daytime in order to avoid the worst cold.• Whereseedpotatoesaretransportedovernightandthetruckdriverhas no choice but to stop over, the truck must be parked under a roof.• Conditionswherecondensationformsontubersaretobeavoided. High daytime temperatures and low minimum temperatures are common during the autumn, winter and spring, resulting in condensation particularly where seed potatoes are kept covered and with insufficient ventilation. Should condensation be unavoidable, the container should be opened as soon as possible to allow the seed potatoes to dry.• Thetruckshouldbeloadedinsuchawayastoallowforsufficient ventilation. It is recommended that seed potatoes be transported in pallets, since this allows for improved ventilation. Tod liners are recommended, since they offer protection from rain, hail, direct sunlight and wind.• Thetransportationofseedpotatoesinopentrucksissuitableforshort trips, for example when driving to the fields on the farm. Where seed potatoes are transported over long distances on open trucks covered with a tarpaulin, the tarpaulin must not be in direct contact with the seed potatoes, and there must be sufficient space for ventilation.

Cold storage

• Thepurposeofcoldstorageistobreakthedormancyofseedpotatoes for early plantings, and to extend the dormancy of seed potatoes for late plantings.• Itisimportanttorememberthateventhebeststoragefacilitiesand practices can simply ensure that the original quality of the seed

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potatoes is retained – storage can do nothing to improve quality.• Thebuyer/receiverisresponsiblefordiscussingtheseedpotatoes’ suitabilityforstoragewiththeseller/supplier.Anagreementmustbe reached before the seed potatoes are transported to the storage facility. Change of ownership must be clearly stipulated in the agreement.• Notallcultivarsreactthesametocoldstorage.• Seedpotatoeskeptincoldstoragemustbeplantedwithin14–20 days after being removed from the cold-room, since vigour is reduced in seed potatoes that are planted too long after being removed from cold storage. Be sure of each cultivar’s requirements in this regard.• Itisimportantnottoreturnseedpotatoestocoldstorageoncetheyhave been removed, irrespective of whether or not they have started sprouting.• Inspectingthecoldstoragefacilitiesisjustasimportantasinspectingthe seed potato fields and sorting facilities.• Theinspectionofthecoldstoragefacilityshouldfocusonthefollowing: - Seed potatoes must be kept dry under conditions of high humidity (90 - 95% RH). - The correct temperature must be maintained (3 - 4oC), with sufficient ventilation and under the most sanitary conditions. - Take note of any bad odours, as well as any condensation on the ceiling or walls, and ask the manager about the record-keeping procedure.• Dataontemperatureandhumiditymustbeavailableandbeproduced on request.• Differentlots,sourcesandgenerationsmustbekeptseparate.• Certifiedseedpotatoesmaynotbestoredinthesamecold-roomas uncertified potatoes.• Takenoteofhowtheseedpotatoesarewarmedpriortobeing transported. The internal temperature of seed potatoes should be raised gradually to 15oC, and they must be dry. During warming, seed potatoes should not be exposed to direct sunlight.• Ensurethatallresponsibilitieshavebeenresolvedbeforeseedpotatoes are transported to a cold storage facility.

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Taking delivery of seed potatoes on the farm

• Someonewiththenecessaryexpertisemustinspecttheload immediately on delivery.• Takephotographsofthetruck.• Keeprecordofthefollowing: - waybill - departure and arrival times -open/undertarpaulinonarrival - typeoftrailer(flatbed/todliner)• Questionthedriverabouttheconditionsduringthejourney (temperature, road conditions, etc.), whether he stopped overnight and if so, where, and where the truck was parked for the night.• Makesurethatthesourceoftheseedpotatoescorrespondswiththe source as agreed upon.• Checkthecertificationlabelstodeterminethegrowersource.• Takearepresentativesampleofatleast10bagsperload.• Inspecttheseedpotatoesineachbagforanydeviationsorsymptoms of disease. Take photographs in support of your observations.• Takenoteofthedateofpackagingwheninspectingthebags.Themore time that passes between packaging and delivery, the greater is the normal weight loss that occurs.• Shouldanyirregularitiesbesuspected,takeanothersampleof10bags per lot of seed potatoes.• Shouldtheseedpotatoesbecoveredinsomuchsoilthatitisimpossible to inspect for tuber symptoms, the soil may be brushed off to allow for closer inspection.• Shouldanyproblemsbedetectedduringsuchcloserinspection,the seller/suppliershouldbecontactedwithoutdelay.• Shouldthebuyer/receiverbeunsureofthenatureoftheproblemorthe impactthereof,thebuyer/receivershouldcollaboratewiththesupplier in seeking assistance.• Shouldtheloadbefoundacceptable,theseedpotatoescanbeoff loaded. If the seed potatoes are delivered by a transport contractor

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andthetruckdriverisunabletowait,theseller/suppliermustbe notified that the seed potatoes have been either unloaded or returned. The conditions of sale determine who is responsible for the transportationcostsintheeventofthebuyer/receiverbeingdissatisfied with the product.• Purchasingcontractsnormallymakeprovisionforthebuyer/receiverto report any problems within seven (7) days. The seed potatoes must therefore be inspected thoroughly before this time period expires.

On-farm storage of seed potatoes

• Therearethreebasicrequirementsforthestorageofseedpotatoes: They must be kept dry, they must be kept at a moderate temperature, and there must be sufficient ventilation. • Ifseedpotatoesarestoredonthefarmpriortoplanting,theyshould preferablybekeptunder-roof.Enclosedstructureswithlow,flatceilings are to be avoided.• Therearerisksassociatedwiththestorageofseedpotatoesoutdoors, since climate control is impossible.• Whereseedpotatoesarestoredoutdoors,thefollowingareimportant: - Keep the seed potatoes in the shade and avoid direct sunlight. - Do not expose the seed potatoes to rain. Should they be exposed to rain, the bags must be opened and unpacked as soon as possible to prevent rot. - Seed potatoes should not be exposed to low temperatures, frost or wind. - Do not expose seed potatoes to direct sunlight, cold or icy winds, taking particular care along the sides and on top of the stacks. - If it is necessary to cover the seed potatoes at night, use a covering that allows for air to circulate (such as hessian sacks).• Irrespectiveofwhereseedpotatoesarestored,thefollowingfactorsare important: -Bagsshouldnotbepackeddirectlyontheground/floor. -Sanitationisessential,especiallyinareaswhereblackdot/silverscurf andsoftrotoccur.Ensurethatallplantresiduesareremovedoncethe seed potatoes have been taken for planting. Where seed potatoes are kept in a store, the floor and walls must be thoroughly disinfected.

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- Workers should not stand or walk on the seed potatoes, since this causes damage and bruising. Seed potatoes that have suffered mechanical damage are more prone to rot. - The bags of seed potatoes may not be stacked higher than they initially were on the pallet (eight bags high). - There must be sufficient ventilation around the pallets. Pallets should be spaced approximately 30 cm apart. - There must be sufficient space to allow for regular inspection of seed potatoes. - Seed potatoes from different sources must be kept separate. - Regular inspections are essential to check maturity, quality, and symptoms of post-harvest rot. It is important to check for possible wet spots caused by condensation or a leaking roof. - Any seed potatoes showing symptoms of soft rot must be removed, and the floor must be thoroughly disinfected. -Thestoreand/orseedpotatoesmustbeinspectedregularlyforthe presence of insects such as potato moth, which could infest the seed potatoes during storage. - The risk of temperatures that are either too high or too low must be determined by keeping record of the temperature around the sides and inside the stacks. The temperature readings should be taken early in the morning and during the afternoon, throughout the storage period.

General

• Rememberthatseedpotatogrowersandtablepotatoproducersare exposed to the same climatic risks and that climatic conditions during the seed potato production season have an effect on their physiological condition. Similarly, climate has an effect on the response of seed potatoes after planting during the table potato season. Production methods during the seed potato and table potato seasons, as well as the handling of the seed potatoes from the time of harvesting up until and during planting, affect the quality of the seed potatoes.• Thevalueofgoodcommunicationbetweenthesupplierandthebuyer/ receiver therefor, cannot be over emphasised.

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• Record-keepingiscrucialindeterminingthecausesofproblemsandthe reasons for success.• Photographsareinvaluableintermsofillustratingrecordsand observations. Photographs can play a major role in improving communicationbetweentheseller/supplierandthebuyer/receiverin the event of any problems arising. Photographs would also be a valuable resource in the event of an investigation into any complaints related to seed potatoes.• Thecertificationlabelsofallseedpotatoesreceivedmustberetained until the end of the season. The Potato Certification Service offers 100% traceability when it comes to any certification label.• Wherepossible,twoorthreebagsfromeverysourceshouldbe retained. In the event of problems during the season, the seed potatoes could then be re-inspected.• Seedpotatoesfromdifferentsourcesandsizesshouldbeplanted separately, with records kept of where each is planted.• Meticulousrecordsshouldbekeptoftheconditionsduringplanting,for example rainfall, very hot or cold temperatures, time of day at which planting occurred, etc.• Intheeventofanyproblems,theseller/suppliershouldbecontacted immediately.

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BEST PRACTICES FOR THE MANAGER OF THE COLD STORAGE FACILITY

• Makesuretheclientisawareoftherequirements,risksandresponsi- bilities, for example: Who is responsible for the cost of re-sorting?• Whohasownershipoftheseedpotatoes?• Inspecttheseedpotatoesthoroughlybeforetakingdelivery.Inspectthe seed potatoes for any mechanical damage, as well as symptoms of soft rot, black dot and silver scurf. • Measuretheinternaltemperatureoftheseedpotatoesandcheckfor moisture.• Keeprecordofyourobservations(takephotographswherepossible) and contact the owner of the seed potatoes immediately if you find the quality to be below standard.• Ensurethatthevariouscultivars,lotsandgenerationsareclearly indicated on every bag, and make sure to keep the different lots separate.• Ensurethatthecold-roomiskeptinacompletelysanitarycondition.• Keeprecordofthetemperatureandhumiditylevels,andmakethem available on request.• Allowclientsaccesstothestandardworkingprocedureinrespectof conditioning, cooling, low-temperature storage, and warming prior to transport.• Supervisetheloadingofthetrucktransportingtheseedpotatoestothe buyer/receiver.Notifythereceiverimmediatelyshouldyoususpectany problems.• Preserverecordsforaperiodofoneyear.

COMPLAINTS RELATED TO SEED POTATOES

Due to the cost of seed potatoes, their perishability, and the effect of seed potato quality on the harvest (in terms of both yield and quality) and also soilhealth,thebuyer/receiverhastherighttorefusetotakedeliveryof

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the seed potatoes purchased and to have them inspected if there is any indication that their quality does not meet the required standard.

Ontheotherhand,theseedpotatogrower/supplierhastherighttosupplyseed potatoes that meet the minimum standards for seed potatoes of a specificgeneration,asspecifiedbythebuyer/receiver.If,foranyreasonwhatsoever,seedpotatoesfailtomeettherequirementsofthebuyer/receiver,thebuyer/receiverisnotifiedassoonaspossibleandalternativesare discussed.

Shouldabuyer/receiverbedissatisfiedwiththeseedpotatoesdelivered,the following procedure applies: • Thebuyer/receivercontactstheseller/supplierimmediatelyintheevent of any dissatisfaction, • theseller/supplierrespondsimmediately,• ifthepartiesarenotabletoreachanagreement,andiftheseed potatoesinquestionhavebeencertified,boththebuyer/receiverand theseller/supplierhavetherighttorequestthePotatoCertification Service to inspect the seed potatoes, • shouldthebuyer/receiverortheseller/supplierstillnotbesatisfied,itis recommended that an independent person knowledgeable in potato production be approached to conduct an investigation,• ifabuyer/receiverplantstheseedpotatoeswithnoproblemshaving been reported, it is assumed that the seed potatoes were found to be satisfactory.

Sinceitisassumedthatgoodcommunicationexistsbetweentheseller/supplierandthebuyer/receiver,andthattheseedpotatogrowerstrivesfor customer satisfaction, it is assumed that independent investigations into complaints related to seed potatoes shall seldom be necessary.

Any investigation into a complaint related to seed potatoes should be conducted in the spirit of identifying the cause of the problem so that it can be avoided in future.

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ROLE PLAYERS DURING INVESTIGATIONS

Potatoes South Africa

• TheroleofPotatoesSouthAfrica,whichactsinthebestinterestsofboth seed potato producers and table-potato producers, is to set guidelines for the reasonable investigation of any complaints related to seed potatoes, • personnelarenotinvolvedinsuchinvestigations,• nofundsaremadeavailableforpurposesofinvestigatingcomplaints related to seed potatoes,• regionalofficerscanprovidetheproducerswithsupportbymeansof theidentificationofthedisease/deviationinquestion.

Potato Certification Service

• ThePotatoCertificationServicebecomesinvolvedininvestigating complaints related to seed potatoes only in proven cases of certified seed potatoes being involved, • complaintsrelatedtoseedpotatoesaredealtwithasquicklyas possible in accordance with specified, internal guidelines of Potato Certification Service,• accurateassessmentsaremadeduringtheinvestigation,afterwhicha full report on the complaint is drawn up,• externalexpertscanalsobeconsultedregardingthecomplaint.

Investigator

• Independentpersonswiththenecessaryknowledgeandexpertiseto conduct an independent investigation, and who can get input from specialists and put it to proper use.

Responsibilities of the seller/supplier and the buyer/receiver

• Ifpossible,thetwopartiesmustagreeontheinvestigatortobeappointed

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and the cost of the investigation.• Preferably,thepurposeofsuchaninvestigationshouldbetoidentifythe cause of the problems concerned so that they may be addressed.• Compliancewiththeinvestigator’srequestsforsupportandinformation. Responsibilities of the investigator

• Theinvestigatorshallatalltimesactinaprofessionalandindependent manner.• Treatallinformationasstrictlyconfidential.• Determinetheinformationrequired.• Inspecttherelevantplantations.• Approachthepartiesconcernedforthenecessaryinformation.• Considerallrelevantdocumentation.

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GUIDELINES FOR INVESTIGATIONS

General

Information to be gathered and taken into consideration during an investigation:• Didthefarmercontactthesupplierwithregardtotheproblem,andis written correspondence available?• WasPotatoCertificationServicenotifiedoftheproblemandwasan investigation conducted? If so, is a copy of the Potato Certification Service report available?• Generationandlotnumber(s)ofseedpotatoes.• Arethecertificationlabelsavailable,anddoestheinformation correspond with the quantity of seed potatoes planted?• Whenwastheseedpotatoorderplaced,anddidtheclientmakeany special requests regarding the seed potatoes ordered?• Didthebuyer/receiverinspecttheseedpotatoplantingatanypoint during the season?• Didthesuppliermakeanyrecommendationsinrespectoftheseed potatoes (size, generation, quality, maturity, seasonal conditions that could possibly affect the seed potatoes)?• Whereweretheseedpotatoesproduced?• Datesofplanting,harvestingandcertification.• Conditionsunderwhichtheseedpotatoeswereproduced,harvested and stored.• Didtheseedpotatoesundergoanyformofpost-harvesttreatment?Ifso – when, with what chemical, and how?• Howwerethetuberspreparedforstorage,andarethererecordsavailable?• Durationofstorage.• Arethererecordsavailableofthetemperaturereadingsduringstorage?• Didthebuyer/receiverrequestcopiesofthecertificationandpost- control reports, and were such copies received?• Doesthelotnumbercorrespondwiththelotnumberonthecertification label?• Howweretheseedpotatoespreparedfordispatch?

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Transportation of the seed potatoes

• Whowasresponsiblefortransportingtheseedpotatoes(seedpotato producer, contractor or client)? • Typeoftransport(open/closedtruck)?• Whenandatwhattimewasthetruckloaded,andwhattimediditdepart?• Whatweretheclimaticconditionsduringtransport?• Arethererecordsavailableofthetemperatureinsidethetruck?• Dateandtimeofarrivalonthefarm?• Whatoccurredatthetimeoftheseedpotatoesarrivingonthefarm?• Howandwhenwastheloadinspected,andbywhom?• Records/photographsofobservations?• Ifanyproblemsweresuspected,whenwasthesuppliercontacted,and is there a record of communication?

Seed potatoes on the farm prior to planting

• Describewhereandhowtheseedpotatoeswerestored,fromthetime they were unloaded from the truck until the time they were transported to the field for planting.• Howlongweretheseedpotatoesstoredundertheaforementioned conditions?• Weretheseedpotatoesre-sortedpriortoplanting?• Weretheseedpotatoessubjecttoanyformoftreatment,andifso,with what chemical, how and when?• Whatisthehistoryoftheland:typeofsoil,fertilisation,rotationalcrops, history of problems?• Descriptionofthetubersandaretherephotographsavailable?• Wereseedallreadytoplant?

Planting

• Whenwastheseedplanted?• Wereseedofdifferentsources/lotsandsizesplantedtogetheror

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separately? Are there records available of where the different lots were planted?• Whatwasthesoiltemperatureandmoisturecontentatthetimeof planting?• Weretheseedpotatoesplantedmanuallyormechanically?• Whatwastheatmospherictemperatureatthetimeofplanting?• Atwhatdepthweretheseedpotatoesplanted?• Forwhatperiodoftimeweretheseedpotatoesexposedtosunlight before being covered?• Rainfalland/orirrigationafterplanting,whenandquantity?• Dateofapproximately75%emergence?• Whatweretheclimaticconditionsfromthetimeofplantinguntil emergence?• Didtheplantsemergeuniformly?Ifnot,whatobservationsweremade (rotting, soil conditions, temperature, photographs, etc.)• Arethereanyleftoverseedpotatoesthatwerenotplanted?Havethey been inspected?

Report

Onceallthenecessaryinformationhasbeengathered,conclusionsaredrawn and provided to the client.

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DISCLAIMER FOR PUBLICATIONS

In compiling the information contained in this publication, Potatoes South Africa has used its best endeavours to ensure that the information is correct and current at the time of publication. However, no representation is made or warranty given as to the completeness or accuracy of such information. In particular, you should be aware that information may be incomplete, may contain errors or may become out of date.

Information provided is not intended to convince or influence the user thereof to come to a particular conclusion, and decisions made based on such information are the sole responsibility of the user of that information You should therefore verify all information before you act upon it, and Potatoes South Africa and its employees, agents and consultants do not accept any legal liability for your decisions and resultant consequences thereof. By using or relying on this information, you indemnify Potatoes South Africa and its employees, consultants and agents from any loss or damage (including indirect, special or consequential loss or damage) resulting from the use of or reliance of such information, whether or not caused by any negligent act or omission.

Any expressions of opinion, claim and statement of supposed facts in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the staff or management of Potatoes South Africa. This publication and its contents are subject to copyright under the laws of South Africa and, through international treaties, other countries. The copyright is owned by Potatoes South Africa, or in the case of third party materials, third parties.

You may use the information in this publication only for your own information, research or study. You may not copy, reproduce, transmit, adapt or otherwise exercise the copyright (in whole or in part) of this publication for any commercial or other purpose without the express written consent of Potatoes South Africa, and may only do so subject to the conditions to which such consent is given.

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NOTES

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